Theater collections include playbills, revues and criticism,actors and actresses, and photographs of characters on stage. The music collections include classical, jazz, blues, religious, patriotic, and popular sheet music covers.

Changes in American popular culture from 1823 through the mid-20th century are reflected in these sheet music covers. The titles of the songs and illustrations on the covers demonstrate how changes in socio-political thinking, including romantic idealism, patriotic enthusiasm, and the influence of African Americans, impacted music and art in the United States. The collection also contains some European sheet music covers. Ms2003-021.